The Flood Medal was instituded in 1855 to honor those who showed diligence, courage, policy and selfscrifice during waterfloods. Medals were issued in silver or bronze for the floods of 1855, 1861, 1876, 1916, 1926. For repetitive issued medals clasps could be worn. Remarkably no medals were issued for the bigflood of 1953!

In January 1926cause highwater levelsof the Maas Riverand its tributariesfloodin theRiver areain CentralNetherlands. By the size of the damage, this is one ofthe three mostcatastrophic floodingof the 20th centuryinthe Valley of the Meuse(along withdecember 1993and January1995).In the provinces ofLimburg, Noord-Brabant andGelderlandismuch landflooded.The extremelyabundantrainsince 19december 1925 incombinationwiththe meltwater ofsnowthat was thereallcasessince the end ofnovember 1925resulted inexceptionally highwater levelsof the river Meuse, RhineandWaal withits tributaries.In the morningof 31december 1925brokethe dykeof the river MeuseatOverasseltandNederasseltwherebythe Land of Maas and Waalflooded. In the daysafterfloodinglarge parts of theRiver areaof the Waal, Maas andIJssel. The villagesNederasselt,Overasselt,Balgoy, Hernen, Leur andbergharenandseveral othercomeunder water. By theincomingwater and icewere3,000houses damagedor destroyed.Thedamage amounted to10million guilders.It wasthe last greatflood disasterin theRiver area.

Material: Bronze, Diameter: 50mm. Obverse: King William III facing right. Reverse: "Watersnood van 1926" above a paper which shows the recipients name. On top a crown, the paper is surrounded by oakleaves.